Wildfire updates from the Klamath National Forest

Friday

Aug 11, 2017 at 5:44 PM

The Klamath National Forest reported several “fires of note” that were started by lightning in recent days, including the Garden Fire, which is burning in the South Fork Salmon River about two miles east of Petersburg near Garden Gulch.

It was 50 acres as of Friday afternoon and was being staffed by eight smoke jumpers, a Type Two Initial Attack crew and a Type One Interagency Hotshot Crew for a total of 48 firefighters. The Garden Fire is burning in the footprint of the 2006 Rush Fire, according to a KNF news release.

The Prescott Fire, burning near Prescott Peak in the Siskiyou Wilderness, was estimated at 40 acres and received moisture from Thursday night’s thunderstorm. The Prescott fire is in a confinement strategy and was being monitored by aircraft.

The Island fire on the North Fork of the Salmon River, burning since late June, continues to exhibit minimal fire activity, is approximately 1,500 acres, and is being staffed by a 10 person wildland fire module.

In all, fire personnel had located an estimated 31 new fires in the KNF from storms since last Sunday. Of these fires, 23 had been contained and were in patrol status.

Clear and Cedar Fires

The Clear Fire, which started from lightning on July 25, and the Cedar Fire, started by lightning on Aug. 8, are being managed together by an incident management team.

The Clear Fire is about 7 miles southwest of Happy Camp. As of Aug. 10 it was 6,553 acres and 62% contained. Most of the fire’s perimeter was reported as secure, and people and equipment were being shifted to the Cedar Fire as of Friday afternoon.

The Cedar Fire is burning about one mile east of the Cedar/Thompson Creek confluence, about eight miles northwest of Seiad. It was estimated at 350 acres. “Fire managers are putting a comprehensive suppression plan in place today that includes continuing to open and clear old dozer lines and linking them with handline,” according to the news release.

Lightning with moderate to heavy rain occurred on both fire areas Thursday night, and both fire areas were under a Red Flag warning until 10 p.m. Friday for abundant lightning on dry fuels.

A daily Air Quality Report for all large wildfires in northwest California is posted on the Clear Fire (https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5433/) and Cedar Fire https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5482/) Inciweb pages.

The Klamath National Forest says it has closed certain roads and trails through Emergency Order No. 17-05-796 in the Clear Fire area in the interest of public safety. That information is also posted on the Clear Fire Inciweb page.

Emergency closures for the Cedar Fire were expected to be issued soon. The Pacific Crest Trail will not be directly affected by road or trail closures, although trails near the fire that link to the PCT may be closed.

Additional information about the Clear Fire and the Cedar Fire is available on the U.S. Forest Service – Klamath National Forest Facebook page, on Inciweb, and on bulletin boards in Happy Camp. Information can also be obtained from the Happy Camp Ranger District at (530) 493-2243.

The KNF urges everyone “to be careful with fire, and remember, ‘One Less Spark, One Less Wildfire.’”

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